Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 54

5 Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Hymn 3:8.

The tree of life.

1 Come let us join a joyful tune To our exalted Lord, Ye saints on high around his throne, And we around his board.

2 While once upon this lower ground Weary and faint ye stood, What dear refreshments here ye found From this immortal food!

3 The tree of life that near the throne In heaven's high garden grows, Laden with grace, bends gently down Its ever-smiling boughs.

4 [Hovering amongst the leaves there stands The sweet celestial Dove, And Jesus on the branches hangs The banner of his love.]

5 ['Tis a young heaven of strange delight While in his shade we sit; His fruit is pleasing to the sight, And to the taste as sweet.

6 New life it spreads thro' dying hearts, And cheers the drooping mind; Vigour and joy the juice imparts Without a sting behind.]

7 Now let the flaming weapon stand And guard all Eden's trees; There's ne'er a plant in all that land That bears such fruits as these.

8 Infinite grace our souls adore, Whose wondrous hand has made This living branch of sovereign power To raise and heal the dead.

Hymn 3:9.

The Spirit, the water, and the blood, John 5. 6.

1 [Let all our tongues be one To praise our G.o.d on high, Who from his bosom sent his Son To fetch us strangers nigh.

2 Nor let our voices cease To sing the Saviour's Name; Jesus th' amba.s.sador of peace, How cheerfully he came!

3 It cost him cries and tears To bring us near to G.o.d; Great was our debt, and he appears To make the payment good.]

4 [My Saviour's pierced side, Pour'd out a double flood; By water we are purify'd And pardon'd by the blood.

5 Infinite was our guilt, But he our Priest atones; On the cold ground his life was spilt, And offer'd with his groans.]

6 Look up, my soul, to him Whose death was thy desert, And humbly view the living stream Flow from his breaking heart.

7 There on the cursed tree In dying pangs he lies, Fulfils his Father's great decree, And all our wants supplies.

8 Thus the Redeemer came By water and by blood; And when the Spirit speaks the same We feel his witness good.

9 While the eternal Three Bear their record above, Here I believe he dy'd for me, And seal my Saviour's love.

10 [Lord, cleanse my soul from sin, Nor let thy grace depart; Great Comforter, abide within, And witness to my heart.]

Hymn 3:10.

Christ crucified; the wisdom and power of G.o.d.

1 Nature with open volume stands To spread her Maker's praise abroad; And every labour of his hands Shews something worthy of a G.o.d.

2 But in the grace that rescu'd man His brightest form of glory s.h.i.+nes; Here on the cross 'tis fairest drawn In precious blood and crimson lines.

3 [Here his whole name appears complete; Nor wit can guess, nor reason prove Which of the letters best is writ, The power, the wisdom, or the love.]

4 Here I behold his inmost heart Where grace and vengeance strangely join, Piercing his Son with sharpest smart To make the purchas'd pleasure mine.

5 O the sweet wonders of that cross Where G.o.d the Saviour lov'd and dy'd!

Her n.o.blest life my spirit draws From his dear wounds and bleeding side.

6 I would for ever speak his Name In sounds to mortal ears unknown, With angels join to praise the Lamb, And wors.h.i.+p at his Father's throne.

Hymn 3:11.

Pardon brought in our senses.

1 Lord, how divine thy comforts are!

How heavenly is the place Where Jesus spreads the sacred feast Of his redeeming grace!

2 There the rich bounties of our G.o.d, And sweetest glories s.h.i.+ne; There Jesus says, that "I am his, "And my Beloved's mine."

3 "Here," (says the kind redeeming Lord, And shews his wounded side) "See here the spring of all your joys, "That open'd when I dy'd."

4 [He smiles and cheers my mournful heart And tells of all his pain, "All this," says he, "I bore for thee;"

And then he smiles again.]

5 What shall we pay our heavenly King For grace so vast as this?

He brings our pardon to our eyes, And seals it with a kiss.

6 [Let such amazing loves as these Be sounded all abroad, Such favours are beyond degrees, And worthy of a G.o.d.]

7 [To him that wash'd us in his blood Be everlasting praise, Salvation, honour, glory, power, Eternal as his days.]

Hymn 3:12.

The gospel feast, Luke 14. 16 &c.

1 [How rich are thy provisions Lord!

Thy table furnish'd from above, The fruits of life o'erspread the board, The cup o'erflows with heavenly love.

2 Thine ancient family the Jews, Were first invited to the feast; We humbly take what they refuse, And Gentiles thy salvation taste.

3 We are the poor, the blind, the lame, And help was far, and death was nigh, But at the gospel call we came And every want receiv'd supply.

4 From the highway that leads to h.e.l.l, From paths of darkness and despair, Lord, we are come with thee to dwell, Glad to enjoy thy presence here.]

5 [What shall we pay th' eternal Son, That left the heaven of his abode, And to this wretched earth came down To bring us wanderers back to G.o.d?

6 It cost him death to save our lives, To buy our souls it cost his own; And all the unknown joys he gives, Were bought with agonies unknown.